What is the type of covalent bond characterized by the equal sharing of electrons between atoms?

Nonpolar covalent bonds are characterized by the equal sharing of electrons between atoms. This occurs when two atoms have similar electronegativity values, meaning that neither atom has a stronger pull on the shared electrons than the other. As a result, the electrons are shared equally, leading to no partial charges developing on either atom.

This type of bond typically forms between two nonmetals that have similar sizes and properties, such as two identical atoms (for example, two hydrogen atoms) or between different nonmetals like carbon and hydrogen. The equal sharing of electrons in nonpolar covalent bonds contributes to the stability of molecules and affects their overall chemical behavior.

In contrast, polar covalent bonds involve unequal sharing of electrons, leading to a slight charge difference across the molecule. Ionic bonds occur through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in charged ions, while hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.